Truck for fighting forest fires



June 24, 1941'. c. L. CHERRY TRUCK FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES Filed July 6, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l liwenlor: Charlesl. Cherry.

June 24, 1941. c. L. CHERRY" 2.246.616

TRUCK FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES Filed July 6, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 one o s: "a

a c c a Invenior: CkurZesLCherry,

June 24, 1941. v c, HE RY 2,246,616

. TRUCK FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES Filed July 6, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 6'5 June 24, 1941. c, CHERRY 2,246,616

TRUCK FOR FIGHTING'FOREST FIRES Filed July 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 fiwcnlor: Charles L. Cherry, MlWM fla June 24, 1941. c, CHERRY 2,246,616

TRUCK FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES Filed July 6,1939 6' Sheets-Sheet 5 Invenlor; Charles L Cherry,

June 24, 1941. c, g Y 2,246,616

TRUCK FOR FIGHTING FOREST FIRES Filed July 6, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 53 L fiwenior: Charles LC'hcrIjy,

Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT orrios 15 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatusfor fighting forest fires and consists of a truck, the chassis of which is provided with two front wheels and eight rear driving wheels, this chassis having mounted thereon a thousand gallon water tank and a rearwardly extending floor on which are mounted high pressure and low pressure pumps driven by an engine at the rear of the tank, said pumps having a plurality of fire hose extending therefrom.

The invention further consists in securing to the front of the chassis a braced metal shield curved downwardly and rearwardly so that the truck may be driven into the forest against the trees and bushes thereof and force them downwardly and sidewise so that the truck may pass over them and between them, along the edges of the fire, permitting the operators to force water under pressure onto the fires while the truck is either moving or at a standstill.

The invention further consists in providing the sides of the truck with outwardly extending curved rub rails which in the forward movement of the truck are adapted to contact with the trees and bushes and force them outwardly from the sides of said truck.

The invention further consists in providing the truck beneath the rub rails with slew skids, the outer curved faces of which are nearer together than the outer curved faces of the rub rails.

The invention further consists in dividing the water tank into a number of compartments, the water from which may be used singly or collectively.

The invention further consists in making the rub rails hollow and adapted to form enclosures for additional sections of hose to be disposed therein.

The invention further consists in providing the water tank with a flat upper wall on which the ho semen may stand and on which the hose to be used may be coiled.

The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus which may be driven directly into the forest regardless of the trees and bushes in advance thereof in order to quickly reach the section of the forest which is aflame.

This and other objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to in the accompanying be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

Of the drawings Figure 1 represents a plan of a truck to be used in fighting forest fires.

Figure 2 represents a partial plan of the same showing the pumps and the engine for driving the same uncovered, and showing the various hose connections extending from said pumps.

Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the truck.

Figure 4 represents a transverse section on line 4, 4 on Fig. 3.

Figure 5 represents a transverse section on line 5, 5 on Fig. 3.

Figure 6 represents a transverse section on line 6, 6 on Fig 3.

Figure 7 represents a sectional detail of the front shield of the truck showing the means for securing it to the chassis and showing a flange secured to said shield for forcing bushes and shrubbery inwardly out of the path of the front wheels of the truck.

Figure 8 represents an inverted plan of the truck.

Figure 9 represents a diagram of the piping system connecting the pumps and the tank.

Figure 10 represents an elevation of one of the baflie plates used in each tank compartment.

Figure 11 represents a front elevation of a portion of the crowding device or shield, and.

Figure 12 represents a section on line [2, I! on Fig. 11.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, Ill is a chassis preferably of the Ford, Marmon-I-Ierrington type, said chassis being supported in a well known manner on two front wheels II and eight rear wheels l2, all of these wheels ll, I2, being actuated by the usual motor at the front end of the truck.

The means for driving the wheels H, 12, is illustrated only in a general way, as it forms no part of the present invention.

On the forward end of the chassis I0 is mounted a truck body l3 having a cab l4 forming a part thereof.

At the rear of the cab It, the chassis H) has mounted thereon a 1000 gallon water tank I5 which is divided into three compartments 16 extending transversely thereof, each compartment It having an air vent i i and an upwardly extending filling pipe i8, the upper end of which is provided with a perforated cap i zr.

Each compartment it has a plurality of transverse baiile plates liix between the lower and upper walls thereof, thus giving great rigidity to the tank 55.

The tank i5 is provided with a substantially fiat upper wall is on which the fire hose 2! are adapted to be coiled, as shown in Fig. 1.

The forward part of the upper wall I!) of the tank i5 is left clear of hose and provides standing room for the hosemen while fighting the fire.

The tank i5 has vertical sides 2i extending upwardly above the top wall l9 thereof and a por tion of these sides 2! have openings 22 therein through which air may pass.

The body unit it is provided with a tool box 23 having a cover 2350 hinged at the top by hinges 24.

In front of the hood 25 and radiator 25 is a shield or crowding device 2'! of heavy rigid metal suitably secured to the chassis It by braces 28.

This shield Z'J is curved downwardly and rearwardly with its upper end of greater width than that of the chassis it and its lower end disposed between the front wheels II.

The opposite ends of the front face of the shield 27 are curved rearwardly as at 29, and said shield 2'! has parallel extensions 21:]: extending to the read end of the cab I and from these extensions 21x project braces 28:0 to the rear face of the shield 23, thereby giving great rigidity to said shield.

To the lower end of the opposite sides of the shield 21 are secured angle irons or flanges 38 which during the forward movement of the truck force inwardly any obstructions in the path of wheels ii so that the truck may pass over such obstructions.

From the top of the shield 2? inclined rods 31 extend over the top of the cab M and are secured to the front wall aim of the tank I5 at the rear of said cab, these rods 3! serving to force tree branches upwardly and over said cab when the truck is moving forward.

From the upper end of the shield 21 and extending rearwardly in a horizontal plane, the truck is provided on opposite sides thereof with rub rails 32 extending the entire length of said truck, which rub rails in the forward movement of the truck contact with trees and bushes at the opposite sides of the truck and force the same outwardly, bending them over so that they will not interfere with the movement of the truck or with the operations of the hosemen on the upper wall is of the tank l5.

The forward ends of these rub rails 32 are tapered, as indicated at 33.

Opposite the doors 3% of the cab l4 these rub rails are provided with movable sections 35 hinged at 25 and adapted to be moved upwardly about the pivots of the hinges 36 to permit the opening of the doors 5d.

The rub rails 32 are formed of heavy sheet metal and at their outer ends are semicylindrical and in the hollow enclosure formed thereby additional lengths of hose may be disposed to be used when necessity arises for their use.

' The rear ends of the rub rails 32 are provided with doors 328 which when opened permit the insertion of sections of hose into the hollow rub rails 32 or the removal of said hose sections when it is necessary to lengthen the hose 20 in order to fight the fire at some distance from the truck.

The upper walls 32a: of the rub rails 32 are fiat and provide a running board on which men may stand.

Below the rub rails 32 the truck has secured thereto slew skids Bl which extend over the front wheels II and are tapered at their forward ends, said skids extending to the shield 21 and to which said skids are secured.

The slew skids 3'! extend rearwardly to the wheels l2 and at the rear of these wheels l2 are other slew skids 38 extending to the rear of the truck.

The slew skids 31', 38 at their opposed ends have secured thereto a heavy metal plate 39 extending over the wheels 12.

These slew skids 3T, 38 have their outer curved ends nearer together than the outer curved ends of the rub rails 32.

A guard plate is secured to the rear of the truck and extends from side to side thereof.

The floor 46 at the rear of the truck and behind the rear wall His: of tank i5 is below the upper wall IQ of tank 15 and to this floor is secured a motor ti, the driving shaft 42 of which is adapted to drive a high pressure pump 43 and a low pressure pump 34.

The motor 41 used is preferably a model B Ford motor and the pumps 23, 54 may be operated thereby either singly or together.

The high pressure pump 43 is of the triplex plunger type and capable of discharging 50 gallons of water a minute at 400 pounds pressure and supplies water through pipes to the hose nozzles located at the forward part of the truck in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The pump 43 is only used in pumping water from the tank onto the fire.

The low pressure pump Mi is of rotary type supplying 200 gallons of water per minute at pounds pressure and is used mainly to refill the compartments it of tank l5 by pumping from a pond or other water supply and forcing the water into said compartments through pipes leading to openings in the upper wall l9 as will be described hereinafter.

This pump 64 also has a pipe 45 extending therefrom through which Water under pounds pressure may be delivered to nozzle 46.

The construction of the motor ll, and pumps 53, 4 5 form no part of the present invention and therefore need not be illustrated in detail.

The shaft 41 of the motor M has secured thereto a gear M which meshes with a pinion 49 on the driving shaft 5%] of the low pressure pump it and said shaft 41 at its outer end is provided with a pinion 5i meshing with a gear 52 on the driving shaft 53 of the high pressure pump 43.

Suitable means may be provided whereby either pump 43, 34 may be driven singly or both pumps driven together.

The upper wall 19 of the tank 55 is provided with a plurality of manhole covers 5 3, one for each compartment H5.

The upper and rear edges of the sides 26 have secured thereto continuous pipes 55.

At the rear of the shield 2? are the usual head lights 58 which may be raised and lowered in any usual manner.

When the truck is not in use fighting a fire the motor 4! and pumps 43, 34 are all enclosed by the rolling shutters 5'! as indicated in Fig. 1.

Secured to the lower end of the rub rails 32 and extending downwardly at an angle are plates 58 which form brush shields to force outwardly any brush with which the truck comes into contact when entering the forest.

The lower ends of these plates 58 are secured to the upper ends of the slew skids 31.

Between the slew skids 31 and the lower ends of the parallel U-shaped members l forming the chassis, are iron plates 59 which close the spaces beneath the lower wall of the tank I5.

This iron plate 59 forms a brace for the brush shield 59 and this brush shield is further braced by the member 60 extending from the inner wall of said shield to the upper end of the chassis.

, Opposite the rear wheels 12 short inclined plates 58.1: extend downwardly outside of said wheels.

At this point the tank I is recessed as shown at I50 in. Fig. 5 to give sufiicient space for the wheels l2.

The lowerwall of the tank I5 has secured there to a plurality of U-shaped strap-supports 6| which rest on the top of the channel irons I9 forming the chassis.

Extending through these supports 6! are U- shaped rods (Has, the vertical portions of which straddle the members l0 and extend through plates 62 beneath the members In, the projecting ends having nuts thereon whereby the tank may be drawn down into firm contact with the chassis and retained securely in position.

These channel irons I0 are filled with oak blocks 6l0 to give additional rigidity thereto.

Between the slew skids 38 and secured thereto is a metal plate 38:10 and above this plate 380: are braces 389 secured to said skids and the chassis The forward ends of the skids 31 are braced by members Illa: extending outwardly from the chassis l9.

Between the skids 33 at the rear of the truck are cross members 400: of channel iron on which the motor 4| and pumps 43, 44 are mounted.

From the bottom of each compartment l6 of the tank l5 extends a pipe I0 connecting with a transverse pipe H, each pipe Ill having a valve 12 therein as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

The entire piping system is shown in diagram in Fig. 9, thus avoiding any confusion which would result if an attempt was made to show all the pipes and valves in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The pipe II extends to the low pressure pump 44 and has a valve I5 therein.

From the pipe II between the valve 15 and the valves I2 is a pipe I6 which leads to the intake of the high pressure pump 43. a Valve 'I'I therein.

From the pipe II extends the draft pipe 63, the outer end of which has a closed cap "I8 thereon.

From the pipe 16 extends a draft pipe 631:, the outer end of said pipe having a cap 19 thereon.

From the high pressure pump 43 extends a pipe 43x which connects with a high pressure regulator 83 and from this high pressure regulator a pipe 84 extends to the nozzle 29w through which water is adapted to be discharged at 25 gallons a minute and 400 pounds pressu e.

From this pipe 84 extends a pipe 95 which leads to a nozzle 20! which is adapted to discharge 18 gallons of water per minute at 400 pounds pressure.

Also extending from the pump 43 is another pipe 43I which supplies water to the hose 20 in the middle compa'rtment, this pipe having a valve 89 therein.

Branching from the pipe 43! is another pipe 8| This pipe 16 has.

connecting to the hose 20 in the rear compartment.

The nozzle 29a: connected with the hose 20 of the rear compartment I6 is adapted to supply.

water at 200 pounds pressure at 25 gallons a minute.

The pipe 8| has a valve 86 therein and the pipe 43l has another pipe 81 leading therefrom to the hose 20 in the middle compartment It, said pipe being adapted to discharge water at 200 pounds pressure at 15 gallons per minute.

The pipe 43I also has a valve 89 therein which when closed cuts off the supply of water to the hose 20.

Leading from the low pressure pump 44 is a pipe 45 which has a valve 99 therein.

From the outer end of thepipe 45 three pipes 9| extend to the filling openings 92 in the upper wall l9 of the tank I5 and each pipe 9| leading to a different compartment I6.

In the pipe 84 is a valve 93 which may be closed to stop the flow of Water to the nozzle 46.

Each vent IT is connected to a pipe 94 which is adapted to permit the escape of air from the top of the compartments and also to permit water to overflow when the compartments l6 become too well filled.

From the pipe 45 extends a pipe 95 having a safety valve 96 therein set at pounds pressure, this pipe 95 communicating with the top of the tank I5 over the rear compartment I6, as indicated at 95L The pipe 43| also has a safety valve unit 91 set at 200 pounds pressure and, from which extends a pipe 9', the end of which communicates with the top of the rear compartment of the tank I5, as indicated at 912.

From the high pressure regulator 33 extends a pipe 98 which forms a bypass from said high pressure regulator, the forward end of this pipe communicating with the top of the rear compartment of the tank I 5, as indicated at 99.

From the pipe 43| is another pipe I99 which connects with the pipe 45.

Each of the pipes 9| has a valve 9m therein and when these valves 9IIl are open and the valve 90 in the pipe 45 is closed, water may pass from the pipe 43I through the pipe I09 to the filling lines 9|, communicating at the opposite ends with the filling openings 92.

When the valves 9H1 are closed and the valve 90 in the pipe 45 is open, Water may pass through the pipe 45, pipe I00, to the pipe 43! and permit the passage of Water from the low pressure pump to the hose 20 in the rear and middle compartments It.

It will be seen, therefore, that water may be discharged from the high pressure pump to the hose 29 or when the pump is out of commission water may be supplied to the hose through the pipe 45 from the low pressure pump or vice versa.

It will be noted that when the truck is moving over a road toward the point where there is a forest fire, the motor 4| and pumps 43, 44, are all enclosed preventing any dirt from entering the compartment in which these devices are installed.

As a consequence, when the truck reaches a point where it is necessary to operate the motor 4i and either or both of the pumps 43 or 44, the roller shutters 5! may be rolled up giving access to said motor and pumps.

At this time, as soon as the motor is operated it is provided with shifting levers I92, I93, whereby either pump 43 or 44 may be driven therefrom.

When the pump 43 is actuated water under pressure of 400 pounds pressure will be forced through the pipes 84 to nozzles 2&0: to be discharged therefrom onto the fire.

Another pipe d5 leads from the low pressure pump M and through this pipe water may be forced under a pressure of 150 pounds to a nozzle 46 to be discharged therefrom upon the fire.

It will be understood that the tank i5 is immovably held in position on the chassis If] and this tank being made of heavy sheet metal is of such a weight that when the truck is moved it will give considerable momentum to the same when the truck enters the forest and comes into contact with trees therein.

When driven against trees and bushes in the forest the shield 2? will bend over any trees or shrubbery with which it comes in contact and force the same downwardly beneath the truck and between the wheels thereof, thereby permitting the continuous forward movement of the truck.

In practice this truck has broken down trees 6 inches in diameter and passed over the same without difiiculty.

As the truck passes between othr trees at the side of the shield 27, the rub rails 32 will contact with these trees and force them outwardly from the sides of the truck.

As these trees are bent over in this manner by the rub rails 32, the slew skids 3'! are adapted to come in contact with the lower portions of the trunks of the trees and force them over further.

The brush shields 58, 555m between the rub rails 32 and the slew skids 3i, tendto force outwardly any branches which may be on the trees being pushed sidewise and thus prevent any such branches from getting under the wheels or interfering in any manner with the operation of the truck.

The motor for driving the truck is not shown as this is of usual construction and is not a part of the present invention.

The motor or engine ii is entirely independent of the motor of the truck which drives the wheels I I, I 2 in the usual manner.

Owing to the front face of the shield 21 being curved slightly rearwardly at the opposite sides thereof as at 2Q, brush and other obstructions coming in contact with this portion of the shield are forced outwardly into position for the rub rails 32 to contact therewith.

The making of the forward ends of these rub rails tapered as at 33 assists materially in the operation of forcing outwardly the trees on either side of the truck.

In fighting the fire the hosemen find sufficient standing room on the top iii of the forward end of the tank I5 and in this position the lines of hose coiled on this top it are very accessible.

In some cases, it may be necessary for some of the hosemen to stand on the running board 32m when fighting the fire, and in this case they can easily reach over the side walls 2i of the tank and seize one or more lines of hose with which to discharge water onto the fire.

It is obvious that a truck constructed as herein shown and described, may be used on the right margin of the fire or on the left margin of the fire, as desired.

It is also selfevident that with the truck at a standstill the hose 28 may be lengthened by adding other sections thereto, so that the water from the hose may be discharged onto the fire at points a considerable distance from the truck.

As before stated, the rub rails 32 being made hollow with considerable space therein extending the entire length thereof, the above mentioned additional sections of hose may be carried therein to be used when necessary,

These additional sections of hose may be removed from the compartments within the rub rails 32 by opening the doors 3% at the rear end thereof.

The operation of lifting the sections 35 about their hinges 36 may be performed manually but preferably this work will be done by motoractuated plungers which may be put in opera-, tion by means within the cab I4.

As this particular mechanism forms no part of the present invention it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate and describe the same.

Moreover, provision is made whereby the motor i! may be placed in operation when desired and other means is provided whereby this motor when in operation may drive either the low pressure pump 44 or the high pressure pump 43.

This mechanism also provides means whereby when necessary both pumps may be actuated at the same time.

For instance, when the water in the tank I5 begins to lower, and it is necessary to continue the fighting of fire, it may be desirable to place the suction hose 63 in a pond or other source of water supply and operate both pumps 63 and A l, the pump 44 in this case drawing water into the pump 44 and forcing it therefrom through the pipe 9i into the filling openings 92, while the pump 43 continues to discharge water to fight the fire.

While in the drawings one means for driving the pump M from the motor M is shown in dotted lines as a gear 43 and pinion 39, it is quite evident that in lieu of this gear 48 and pinion 49 a regular reduction gearing may be used in the casing of the motor 4!.

This fire fighting apparatus has been found to be very effective in use and owing to the abundant supply of water carried in the tank I5 and the use of a motor 4! to operate the high pressure pump 43 so that the water discharged from this pump to the nozzles 283: will be discharged upon the fire at a great pressure, the fiames may be more rapidly extinguished than could be accomplished by any other apparatus now in use.

In order to give additional rigidity to the crowding device or shield 27, a rod 210 extends from the rear face thereof beneath each headlight 55 and is secured to the chassis ID at 21 I.

This shield 21 has an opening I04 extending therethrough which is closed by a door I05 hinged at the bottom thereof, as indicated at I06 in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

To the rear face of this door I55 is pivoted a rod fill which may be operated from the cab It to open and close the door as desired.

When fighting a fire this door IE5 is closed but when the truck is being driven along the road it is open to give sufficient air to cool the radiator 28.

The advantages of this unit over the conventional type of forest fire apparatus lie in the fact that, first, it carries four to five times the volume of water; second, the special crowding device and guards enable it to leave the road and travel through the woods to and along the line of fire.

Under ordinary conditions, it is not necessary to lay hose, water being applied directly from the forward deck of the truck to the fire.

This is accomplished while the unit is in motion, enabling operators to put out the blaze at the rate of from 3 to 4 miles an hour without stopping.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle provided with a rigid shield in advance of and secured to the front thereof, said shield being wider than the forward end of the chassis of the vehicle and curved downwardly and rearwardly with its rear and lower end narrower and disposed between the front vehicle wheels.

2. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said vehicle is provided on opposite sides with outwardly projecting rub rails consisting of rigid metal plates extending the entire length of said vehicle with their outer ends arcuate in cross section.

3. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which each side of said vehicle is provided with two outwardly projecting plates arcuate in cross-section extending lengthwise of the vehicle, the upper plates projecting outwardly further than the lower plates and having flat upper surfaces,

4. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which a cab is provided at the front end of the vehicle and over which inclined rods extend rearwardly from the top of the shield.

5. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle at set forth in claim 1, in which a cab is provided at the front end of the vehicle and over which inclined members extend rearwardly from the top of the shield over the top of the cab, the rear ends of said rods being fixedly secured in position at the rear of said cab.

6. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which the upper curved plates on the sides of the vehicle forming rub rails are hollow forming storage chambers.

7. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said vehicle is provided on opposite sides with outwardly projecting rub rails extending the entire length of said vehicle, the forward ends of said rails being connected to the opposite edges of said shield and are gradually tapered to said edges.

8. A motor-driven wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1, in which said shield is gradually curved downwardly and rearwardly with its lower portion disposed between the front wheels of the vehicle.

9. A motor-driven vehicle provided with a rigid shield in advance thereof secured to the forward end of the chassis by vertical rigid plates, said shield being wider than the chassis of the vehicle and curved downwardly and rearwardly with its lower portion narrower and disposed between the front wheels of the vehicle.

10. A motor-driven vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which rigid brace rods extend downwardly and rearwardly from the top of said shield with their rear ends fixedly secured to the forward end of said chassis.

11. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which said shield is provided with rearward parallel extensions vertically disposed on opposite sides of the motor of said vehicle.

12. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which the inner face of said shield in front of the vehicle wheels has secured thereto flanges constructed and arranged to force inwardly beneath the vehicle trees which have been broken down by the shield in the forward movement of said vehicle.

13. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which the rear end of the vehicle is provided with a horizontally disposed rigid guard extending rearwardly therefrom and rigidly secured to the chassis thereof.

14. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which each side of said vehicle is provided with two outwardly projecting curved plates extending lengthwise of the vehicle, the outer ends of which are arcuate in cross section, the upper plates projecting outwardly further than the lower plates, and inclined flat brush guards interposed between and secured to the upper and lower plates.

15. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9, in which the inner face of said shield in front of the forward truck wheels has secured thereto curved flanges extending rearwardly between said wheels.

CHARLES L. CHERRY. 

